Attention all DC-3 fans !

[big-mike]

2 please.
Mike

 

[511Flyer]

I cast my vote for number 2 please.

 

[Javis]

Ok! Thanks, guys, that's what i wanted to hear.


Bit of both then, éh ? The MAAM R4D has these individual gauge light boxes too and i kinda grew fond of them. (can you grow fond of simple small thing like a gauge lighting box ??.... Yes, i can !!... ) IIRC they didn't actually work in the VC of the R4D model but we could possibly make them work here. Could be added just to a specific C-47 model and left out of a DC-3 model or make it an option all together. Re the repetition, good point. It was just by impulse that i added them (stumbled over a photo of a C-47 cockpit that has them) so it was all done in the spur of a moment. I may have been a bit too enthousiastic about the sharpness of the texture. Point taken !


Btw, if you happen to fly the Connie with the panel Hansi and i put together a couple years ago you can see i'm really serious about liking those light boxes... ( i got into a dispute with a no longer existing commercial dev who used our freeware Connie gauge images in various commercial packages. Proves i'm not the only one liking those light boxes... )


Just wanted to know your stance towards those light boxes. I do like them but i'll make it an option one way or another. I'll also make sure they don't look that repetitive anymore.


Thanks much again, guys !

Chhers,
Jan

 

[DaveWG]

I'll go for no.2, but please vary the textures a bit. Looks to repetitive otherwise.

 

[robcap]

Hey Jan,

no, nothing cooking in Gmax anymore. DC2 sales are still going strong though, can't complain on that. Avoidrome is still happy ;-)
I'm only working on my Citroen 2CV. Installed an Electronic Ignition system. Purrs like a kitten.
Tomorrow I can go on the road again, I decided to keep her indoors during winter, and do some maintenance.

Regarding the panel, I like the lightboxes, especially if you can get them to work as intended!
Great work so far! Fantastic. Might really be a reason to start-up FSX again, when it's ready.

Cherio, Rob

 

[Javis]

Hoi Rob,


Good to hear the DC-2 still going strong ! ( btw, how's Alex ?...) And congrats with your 2CV ! ( don't wanna upset you but if it purrs like a kitten there's something wrong, mate..... IIRC it should quack like a duck! ) Pity no more Gmax work, Rob... I'm actually soooo happy to be back. Maybe you need a sabbatical too, right ? Worked for me! (although not intentional )

Groeten,
Jan

 

[huub vink]

Sorry to arrive this late, but personally I prefer the upper one. I think its easier for the eyes as the lower one just contains too much details.

Cheers,
Huub

 

[stovall]

Also arriving late, I would prefer the first image. It give me complete detail without the repetition of the gauge edges. Just plain looks better to me. Both are a work of are. Definitely will go with the flow. Wonderful to see the continued work. Thanks

 

[Bill Kestell]

Count me as late also ... #1 for me.

 

[Rudyjo]

I'll take number 2. I like the old look, for some reason it just looks older to me.

 

[Alan_A]

Here's another late vote for #1, but... a luxury request... although the instrument lights on #2 make it a bit cluttered to my eye, I like the idea of two alternative texture sets, one with light use and one with heavier wear that'd fit with some of the "beater" repaints.

An analogy - over on the A2A forums, member "warbirds" posted an alternative, heavy-use set of VC textures for the B-17. Here's the thread. I've taken to using the original textures for modern aircraft like Sentimental Journey and Fuddy Duddy, and the worn ones for some of the high-mileage repaints like Jankees' Outhouse Mouse, Ol' Gappy and A Bit o' Lace.

It'd be nice to be able to mix and match between, say, the HD American Airlines DC-3 repaint and 102DH or some of the CBI C-47s.

Obvious but important point: I can't speak for the amount of time it would take to do alternative texturing, and there's more than enough effort going into this already without my coming along to add to it. So I'll be more than grateful for whatever eventually comes out, and for all the contributions that make up this wonderful project.

Standing by, as before...

 

[Ian Warren]

I think its that little extra detail shown in panel two that gives it a kick after looking at the photos again , maybe after completion have the option for the other panel just as a template?

 

[srgalahad]

There's not a lot of historical information about the development of aircraft panel lighting, but as best I can work out, the chronology goes thus:

1. Matches (smelly, fire hazard, hard to light in windy/leaky cockpits)

2. Flashlights (needs a spare hand and spare batteries)

3. Floodlights (red, white, UV alone or in combination) - UV requires instruments to be painted with phosphorescent paint (Radium usually, which became a 'strategic resource')

4. Eyebrow lighting (with development of newer, smaller bulbs - less glare and can't be blocked by pilot's head -later developed with fluorescent lights -there are various shapes over time and some modern ones are for sale) Floods were retained for pre-flight, illuminating overall areas and as backup. The military led development though the period and they seemed to want to do away with lights that would cast a glow in the whole cockpit, cause reflections or be seen from outside - for obvious reasons. Technology eventually spilled over to the civilian side.

5. Back/edge/perimeter incandescent/fluorescent lighting (initially poor brightness and uneven light with early technology)

6. Post lighting (1950/60's prone to 'spots'/glare and breakage or snagging)
7. Electro-luminescent and fluorescent (new tech) edge/back/dial lighting (1970's?)
8. LED edge lights and electro-luminescent instrument faces (new)

As this is a FS model, it depends largely on how much time/effort the modeler wants to spend building the lightmaps for individual gauges as opposed to more general lighting.

Since I get to express a preference - #2
While I appreciate our freedom of choice, I'll bet the pilots who got to drive a DC-3 didn't often get their choice but flew what the boss gave them. I will say that I've found a flashlight makes a lot of glare on my monitor.

 

[Ian Warren]

While I appreciate our freedom of choice, I'll bet the pilots who got to drive a DC-3 didn't often get their choice but flew what the boss gave them. I will say that I've found a flashlight makes a lot of glare on my monitor.

I like that, I could seriously imagine using a torch/flashlight in the ole cockpit to pan around instruments

 

[Alky]

I was thinking while having a shower, since I can't sing, I think, anyway, wouldn't it be possible to have both as an option in the VC package? Whatever texture that part of the panel is on, make an option folder and put them both in it.

EDIT: oops, I didn't read Alan's post before I wrote mine!

 

[Javis]

@ Alan & Alky: these 'eyebrow' light boxes are not just textures, guys. Maybe not easy to notice from a piccie but they are 3D models just like everything else, even bolts- and screwheads and rivets ( well, not all... ;-)

Maybe you get a better idea with this :

They are all grouped together so it's just one click to export the whole lot with a model or leave 'em out. Easy peasy. Their function is a different kettle of fish of course, like described in srgalahad's summary ( thanks for that, Sir ! )


As for A2A's B-17, that's about at the top of my fav FSX aircraft list. Got the weathered texture set right after it was released. Very nice indeed ! I also love the UV lighting they have set up and will certainly try that for our VVC as well. ( on the captains side you can see a typical UV lamp already present. The switch box on top of the throttle quadrant is also ment to activate UV lighting.


Currently the cockpit already looks pretty cosy with the ambient lighting 'straight out of the box', courtesy of Manfred's modern DC-3 VC :

I'll add a box of matches just to be sure. ;-)

cheers,
jan

 

[TuFun]

Super shot of that cockpit there Jan!!!!

 

[CG_1976]

Well from Experiance with the DC3 and Arctic. Always carry a Zippo Lighter using Zippo fluid, Wind proof and resistance, and works like a treat in the High Arctic. Carry match's in the High Arctic can be useful, but a Zippo is king.

 

[Javis]

Right! I'll add a Zippo too.

 

[Javis]

Super shot of that cockpit there Jan!!!!

Thanks, Ted! Me likes your new avatar. Can you tell ?..